A MAN who escaped jail for handling a disabled girl’s stolen bicycle remains at liberty despite a subsequent careless driving conviction.

Steven Anthony Henley received a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, with probation supervision, at Consett Magistrates’ Court, on November 11 last year.

It was imposed after he admitted handling a nine-year-old girl’s specially-adapted pink cycle.

The adaptations were made as owner Tilly Lockey lost her hands having suffered meningitis as a baby.

Bikes belonging to Tilly and her sisters were taken from a garage at the family home, in Blackhill, Consett, in September.

Henley was arrested after he was found hiding behind a wardrobe at his home in Ritson Court, Blackhill, following the recovery of the adapted bicycle days later.

Magistrates were told that he and his girlfriend found the bike, not knowing who owned it, and “foolishly” took it home, putting it in a cupboard.

Henley was back in the dock today (Thursday February 26), at Durham Crown Court, following his arrest after a short police car chase, from Leadgate to Consett, on December 3.

He was initially facing a charge of dangerous driving, which he denied, but his ‘guilty’ plea to the lesser offence of careless driving was today “accepted” by the prosecution.

Henley, 34, also admitted failing to stop for police, and driving without insurance or a licence, arising from the incident.

The offences put him in breach of the suspended sentence passed on November 11.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said Henley was at the wheel of a Vauxhall Vectra, pursued by police, from Front Street, Leadgate, at 4pm.

During the pursuit, he failed to stop for police, exceeding the 30-miles per hour limit and haphazardly taking a right hand bend, at one stage.

Charlton Carr, for Henley, told the court: “He accepts driving without due car and attention, negotiating the bend too quickly, and exceeding the speed limit, over a relatively short distance.”

Mr Carr said it was another “foolish” incident, in what was his car, but which he no longer owns.

The court heard that Henley, who has difficulties with anxiety and depression, has almost overcome a previous heroin addiction, benefitting from the supervision element of the previous sentence.

Judge Simon Hickey said the aggravating feature of the offence was that it was committed so soon after the suspended sentence was imposed.

But he added that, given his positive response to probation supervision, he could “just draw back” from jailing Henley.

He fined him £200 for the motoring offences, with £20 statutory surcharge, and added three months to extend the suspended period of the previous sentence to 15 months.